Why Americans keep lying about being American? (Mexicans, illegal, Amish)

[Irishiis49]

As you can tell I am proud of my Irish heritage I am the last member of our family line that is 100% Irish which is very unique since our family has been in the USA for over 100 years. Having said that, when I am in Europe or any other foreign country I always identify myself as American.It really is a habit that is unique to Americans!! I have Greek-American friends that identify themselves back to the towns their family was from!! Really I would'nt get yourself in a knot thinking we Americans are trying to deny belonging to the greatest country in the world

[numbskull]

A lot of this regarding "i'm Irish-American,Polish-American,African-American,etc" is(in my opinion) because it's "hip and cool to do". When their grandparents immigrated here, they considered themselves "unhyphenated Americans", but now to be an, American only, is "not cool"...we are a country that is hellbent on "just what is cool" and not "what is real and practical".

[Thomas R.]

I know some Americans are nervous about saying they're American when overseas. Even really patriotic Americans sometimes have that concern. In many countries that even like us "American" is seen as almost meaning "Rich and gullible." In countries that don't like us it means "Capitalist Imperialist Swine" or something similar.

Although in the cases you mean I'd guess it's that they want to describe their ethnicity and "American" isn't precisely an ethnicity. Also they might be going overseas to study their roots. Although "American" has come to mean an ethnicity in some cases. Many Appalachians use it to describe that they're of mixed European ancestry (Usually British peoples: English, Scottish, Scotch-Irish, Welsh, maybe even Cornish. Although some German, French, and Cherokee ancestry might also be there) and that their people have lived in the US for many generations. Likely though Appalachians aren't going overseas as much as other Americans. American Indians might also describe themselves as "American", but I think they tend to prefer naming their specific tribe if they know it.

[danielj72]

I think the OP is confused about us. Regardless of ancestry most American will say "I am an American", however this cultural melting pot is part of our history and culture. Many of us strongly identify with the culture our ancestors came from, but that does not mean we think we are less American. You may meet someone from New Jersey who claims to be "Italian" but they will also tell you they are American. They are aware that if they were to visit Italy that they would not appear Italian at all, but American. The same could be said of scotch-irish in the south, Germans in the upper midwest or Chinese in California. We are Americans first, but aware of where we came from.

[EnricoV]

Originally Posted by elfintwerp

In Ireland people (behind American's backs) call them Plastic Paddy's. People pretending to be Irish. I asked an American person why they said this and they said , "America is a melting pot". Or "America is new". That is no answer. Do Americans know that people in the other countries they claim to be from are laughing at them thinking they are stupid for saying they are from there?

Yes, it is an answer. Perhaps it's not the answer that you wanted, or that you understand, but it is an answer. Perhaps it's because Americans are accepting, even welcoming, of other cultures. And encourage them to exist within our society. And the other countries which you've visited need immigrants to blend in, in order to be accepted.

Yes, Americans know that most other nations hate them, and mock them, all the while sopping up everything they can of America. Rudeness, contrary to those other nations' thinking, isn't exclusively an American trait. Besides, they're probably only telling you that in order to try to connect with you on a personal level. Shame on them. That's surely something to be mocked.

[Stumbler.]

Originally Posted by Thomas R.

I know some Americans are nervous about saying they're American when overseas. Even really patriotic Americans sometimes have that concern. In many countries that even like us "American" is seen as almost meaning "Rich and gullible." In countries that don't like us it means "Capitalist Imperialist Swine" or something similar.

But if the ones you mention are so patriotic, why shy away from it then? It's easy to be patriotic when you're in your own country, showing off against your own countrymen -- it means more to when confronted with being in another country, show your country is one to be proud of.

If you're not the person who fits the "rude tourist" stereotype, then why be scared? If you set a good, well-behaved impression that shatters the locals' stereotypes then that is something you should be proud of.

[chielgirl]

Originally Posted by Thomas R.

I know some Americans are nervous about saying they're American when overseas. Even really patriotic Americans sometimes have that concern. In many countries that even like us "American" is seen as almost meaning "Rich and gullible." In countries that don't like us it means "Capitalist Imperialist Swine" or something similar.

Although in the cases you mean I'd guess it's that they want to describe their ethnicity and "American" isn't precisely an ethnicity. Also they might be going overseas to study their roots. Although "American" has come to mean an ethnicity in some cases. Many Appalachians use it to describe that they're of mixed European ancestry (Usually British peoples: English, Scottish, Scotch-Irish, Welsh, maybe even Cornish. Although some German, French, and Cherokee ancestry might also be there) and that their people have lived in the US for many generations. Likely though Appalachians aren't going overseas as much as other Americans. American Indians might also describe themselves as "American", but I think they tend to prefer naming their specific tribe if they know it.

I concur.

I travel extensively and it's rare that anyone asks my nationality, perhaps 10% of the time, and I'm being generous.

You can usually tell Americans because they talk loudly, are frequently rude, don't know other languages; their kids run around unsupervised, even in restaurants.

I'm usually embarrassed to be a US citizen overseas.

[chielgirl]

Originally Posted by EnricoV

Yes, it is an answer. Perhaps it's not the answer that you wanted, or that you understand, but it is an answer. Perhaps it's because Americans are accepting, even welcoming, of other cultures. And encourage them to exist within our society. And the other countries which you've visited need immigrants to blend in, in order to be accepted.
Didn't happen with the Italians, Irish or Blacks. Still not happening with the Central Americans, Indians, Middle Easterners.

Yes, Americans know that most other nations hate them, and mock them, all the while sopping up everything they can of America. Rudeness, contrary to those other nations' thinking, isn't exclusively an American trait. Besides, they're probably only telling you that in order to try to connect with you on a personal level. Shame on them. That's surely something to be mocked.

No one said that rudeness is a solely US trait, but it can be seen most clearly in US citizens.

I mock people from the US; I live overseas.
You can usually pick them out in any crowd. It's nice (and rare) when you can't.

[theunbrainwashed]

Originally Posted by Thomas R.

I know some Americans are nervous about saying they're American when overseas. Even really patriotic Americans sometimes have that concern. In many countries that even like us "American" is seen as almost meaning "Rich and gullible." In countries that don't like us it means "Capitalist Imperialist Swine" or something similar.

It's mostly liberal Americans that are embarrassed to broadcast their Americaness abroad. Since many Europeans equate Americans with Bush, they try to hide in shame. Case in point, the poster above my reply. And I also have personal experience being in the UK before, the liberal Americans are the shameful ones.

As for me, no one thought I was American when I went abroad. Most people thought I'm a Spaniard, a few thought I was from northern South America, though it doesn't help matters when my Spanish accent slips through sometimes

[imcurious]

Very interesting. I do not identify with being "American" because I am only American because my relatives ran away from their countries . . . America's "culture" is also nothing to be proud of - who wants to identify with a junk culture?

I could never identify with the flag-wavers, the patriots - it just seems like nationalism to me and it is not attractive - the "wholesome" boring parades . . . it's all very surface-y and hollow - it's not cool at all.

But being Italian is so romantic - and being Irish is so . . . Celtic . . .these cultures are meaty.

America is just too trashy, shallow, and uninteresting for my taste.

And my heritage means a lot to me . . . maybe if America was really AWESOME there would not be the need to identify with one's original culture . . . but I also think it is shallow not to give the origins a thought. Migration is for upstarts and troublemakers . . . nothing to be that proud of . . . I guess the occasional dreamer with incentive would be an exception.